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How Did a Running Dentist Become a Pro-Athlete? 7 Lessons I Learned from a World Record-Winning Athlete (that will make you smash your goals as well)
Karel Sabbe is an ultrarunner and belongs to the prime group of this niche sport. After finishing the Barkley Marathons in March 2023 (17th finisher in 37 years), setting Fastest Known Time-Records on the Via Alpina, Appalachian Trail, and the Pacific Crest Trail in 2016, Karel decided to go back to the PCT for a new record attempt.
Eight years have passed since he started ultrarunning. He went from an amateur ultrarunner nobody knew to a world-class, sponsored pro athlete.
I joined him and his crew for 3 weeks on his 2023 adventure, where he broke the PCT record by 5 days and 4 hours. He ran 4286 km with 4000 altitude meters in 46 days, 12 hours and 50 minutes.
It was a fantastic experience. But above all, I could learn and see how he managed to set such extreme records with my own eyes.
Here are 7 lessons I learned from joining a world-class athlete on his latest record attempt.
1. Success doesn’t come overnight.
In 2016, Karel was a nobody. An unsponsored Belgian Dentist suddenly appeared on the ultrarunning scene. Nobody noticed him until he…
